Why so young?

by Ashley
(Alberta, Canada)

Me and Mom

My mom died suddenly on Sunday January 29, 2012. There was no medical reason for her passing. She was 50 years old. That morning, I woke up to footsteps running up and down the stairs. I thought maybe the furnace was broken or something like that cuz when that happens it always happens on a Sunday morning. So I texted my mom to ask her what was going on. Of course I didnt get a response. A couple of minutes later, a police officer opened my door and told me to get up. That really freaked me out! I quickly got up, threw some clothes on and went out of my room. The policeman was standing by the door to go to the basement blocking the way to go upstairs (There are 3 floors in our house. My parent's room is on the top floor, mine on the middle and then there is a basement) and he told me my dad wanted me to go to the basement with my brother. I ask him "Whats going on? Is everyone ok? Are my parents ok?" Which was a dumb question cuz if everything was fine he wouldn't be there! He told me that my dad was fine and the paramedics were there working on my mom. So I went to the basement and sat in the guest room with my brother (who is 14) and prayed. We had no idea what was going on. All we knew was that something had happened to Mom and the paramedics and police and firemen were there. What we didn't know was that mom had died at 7:48 that morning. My dad had gotten up to have a shower and came back and my mom was laying back on the bed like she had been sitting on the side of the bed and fallen back and she was gone. So then my dad called 911 and yelled at my brother (whose room is almost right next to my parents) to go get up, don't come near the room, but go down and open the door for the paramedics. Then my brother got sent down into the basement and the policeman came and got me. After being in the basement for a few minutes, the policeman came down to check up on us and tell us Dad would be down in a few minutes to see us. I asked him if Mom was gonna be ok. He told me "I don't know. I'm not a doctor" I was like gee thanks!! You could have at least said something that would encourage me! After a while, the paramedics got my mom all loaded up and took her to the hospital and my dad came down to get us. We all went and did our hair and got tidied up and then we drove to the hospital. When we first got there, my dad gave me a twenty and told me and my brother to go get three waters. Thats when I knew it was serious. I knew from reading so many Lurlene McDaniel books that he just didn't want us there if he got a DUA (dead upon arrival). We could have gotten free water from the nurses. And none of us even drank our water! After finding the gift shop and getting the water, we went back to find my dad. One of the nurses took us to where he was and just before we got to the cubicle thing where they were, another nurse recognized us and told us that Dad wanted us to wait in a different room. So we sat in the room and the policeman stood watch outside our door cuz he didn't want us to try to sneak off and go find Dad. Even when I had to use the bathroom he was like "where are you going??". Which was kind of funny. Anyways we sat there for about an hour. the nurse brought us toast and my brother had one piece and I had one bite. At around 10:15ish, my dad came into the room in tears and told us Mom was gone. My dad and my brother were sobbing and I was just sitting there. I kinda felt like there was something wrong with me cuz I wasnt crying. But I was just in shock. It was the most awful day of my life!! She was my best friend! She had been there for me every day of my 17 years of life! She won't be here to see me graduate, have a boyfriend, get married, have kids, etc. I can't turn to her for advice anymore. I miss her more than anything else!

Comments for Why so young?

I am so sorry. Most people would say "I know exactly how you feel" But the strange thing is that I really do.. I to lost my mom at 17. I am 18 now. It will be a year this month. She died from cardiac arrest around 7:45 am in my basement aswell..

Apr 17, 2012

I am so Sorryby: carol,seans mom

Ashley, I am so sorry. No 17 year old young lady should go threw that. I am not even fifty yet and I lost my24 year old son. No 49 year old woman should go threw that. I don't know why these things happen. It is horrible. I can't imagine why some people are put threw so much pain. Just stay close to your brother,he needs you and your dad,he needs you to. And you need them. One day at a time,sometimes like the doctor told me learn to live ten minutes at a time. My son died in his sleep and was buried Thanksgiving week. The holidays for me were terrible. I am glad you had that one last time. Your mom sounds like a wonderful mom. So unfair. You take care. I am thinking of you.